Bright side to Pagano leaving for Colts

January 29, 2012|By Ron Fritz | The Baltimore Sun

The Ravens' loss of defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano to the Indianapolis Colts might actually be a big gain in the long run.

Not because Dean Pees is replacing Pagano, but because Pagano just hired Bruce Arians, former Steelers offensive coordinator, to the same job in Indy, and he will interview Keith Butler, Steelers linebacker coach, to be defensive coordinator of the Colts.

You can say that Arians had already left the Steelers and therefore isn't a loss to them, but he and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger have killed the Ravens for years. Butler is a defensive coordinator in waiting, maybe someday replacing Dick LeBeau. Butler reportedly was the top candidate for the Cardinals' defensive coordinator position last year.

As the Steelers try to rebound from finishing behind the Ravens in the AFC North, losing two outstanding coaches in Arians and Butler isn't going to help.